In the speech, the president said that the economy cannot
fully recover while Washington continues to manufacture crises that create
economic uncertainty, and he warned Republicans against gridlock tactics.

"The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its
business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next," he
said. "We can't do it. Let's agree, right here, right now, to keep the
people's government open and pay our bills on time and always uphold the full
faith and credit of the United States of America.

"The American people have worked too hard, for too long,
rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another."

The president's speech checked off the usual shopping list
of common, popular causes -- education, national security and job growth -- but it
took time with two issues which promise to divide Congress this year -- gun control
and immigration.

"The biggest obstacle we face to reform is this nation's
failure to establish lawfulness in the system," Sessions
said. "The President's immigration plan meets the desire of businesses
for low-wage foreign workers while doing nothing to protect struggling American
workers."